Acute Bronchitis

Question 1

What is acute bronchitis?

Answer 1

Lower respiratory tract infection characterised by inflammation of large airways but not lung parenchyma (differentiating it from pneumonia)

Question 2

Risk factors for acquiring acute bronchitis?

Answer 2

Autumn/winter
Smoking

Question 2

Causes of acute bronchitis?

Answer 2

Mostly viral

Bacteria is less common e.g. strep pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae

Question 3

Signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis?

Answer 3

Dry / productive cough
URTI symptoms and LRTI symptoms
Chest pain on coughing
Mild SOB
Fatigue
Malaise
Low grade fever
Wheeze on forced expiration
Rhonci clearing on coughing

Question 4

Investigations for acute bronchitis?

Answer 4

Clinical diagnosis mainly
If diagnostic uncertainty, do…

RSV swab

Sputum culture to look for bacterial causes

CRP (if raised it is more likely pneumonia)

Chest x ray should be normal. If consolidation -> pneumonia